E-cedi moves to cross-border payments, BoG says digital currency now aimed at seamless Accra-to-Lagos settlements.
The Bank of Ghana (BoG) is advancing work on the e-cedi, a digital currency designed for cross-border settlements and wholesale payments to improve regional payment efficiency, following the successful completion of its pilot phase. The project, which has gone through design, implementation, and testing stages, is now focused on supporting faster international transactions, regional trade integration, and secure large-value payments, according to BoG Governor Dr Johnson Pandit Asiama, who spoke at the ACI World Congress in Accra. He said the central bank is also collaborating with regional partners on harmonised payment systems and fintech passporting to enable seamless transactions across Africa, where payments initiated in Accra could clear as easily in cities like Abidjan or Lagos. The congress, hosted by ACI Ghana under the theme “Elevating markets, empowering people,” brought together financial market professionals from over 60 countries and highlighted Africa’s growing role in global financial discourse, with calls for stronger partnerships, innovation, and regulatory alignment across markets.
